This Blogger's Make-Up Free Selfies Reveal Way More Than Just Her Bare Face

Nutritionist and personal trainer Sophie Gray (@wayofgray) wants you to "accept the sh-t out of yourself." In case you're unfamiliar: She's huge on body positivity, and refuses to post bikini pics on Instagram in order to promote a healthier body image for her fans.

We're here for it...but where to start if you're feeling shaky on the self-love? Be kind to a body part you neglect, or one you have bad associations with. "Give it a mini massage and say to yourself, 'I am enough,'" says Gray. "We so often feel shame about—and disconnected from—our bodies. Showing them a little love is soothing and relaxing."

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One thing she does post: makeup-free selfies. And there's way more to them than you'd think. She has a ton of these shots all over her page, and each comes with its own inspirational message. Here are her best shots, plus the awesome words behind them.

That Time She Was Feeling Crappy

“I have been down lately. My skin is bad. My period is coming. I haven’t been sleeping. I haven’t been motivated. The couch has been my favourite place to be,” Sophie wrote in the caption. But, she adds, this is real life—and we all have those days. “Am I allowing these last few days to define who I am? Absolutely not. Am I allowing them to make me feel less about myself? Nope,” she said. “I’m sharing this side of my life because I know you experience these things...And, I’m sick of social media making us feel bad about our human experience.”

Sophie stresses that it’s okay to be sad and down sometimes. “You are not less of a person for having these experiences. Most importantly, know that you are not these experiences. You are so much more than your acne, anxiety, sleepless nights, depression or whatever you’re going through. You are love. Plain and simple.”

That Time She Purposefully Skipped the Professional Photo

After gaining more followers, Sophie wanted to reach out to the newbies in an unconventional way. “I went to start a post introducing myself to my new FRIENDS and started to dig around my ‘professional image’ folder. But, f-ck that,” she wrote. “ I love a ‘I just woke up and haven’t done my hair or makeup’ selfie.”

That Time She Asked for Hugs

“If you guys see me strolling around in the real world, hug me. Get up in my sh-t and tell me how we're best friends. I love that,” Sophie wrote. “It's also this girl's birthday so you being here is such a beautiful present.”

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That Time She Took Off Her Makeup On Camera

Sophie decided to remove her makeup on-camera on Instagram Live. “Why?” she wrote. “Because a makeup-less face isn't any less beautiful. Breakouts, cellulite, wrinkles, fat, stretch marks and any other ‘imperfections’ are literally what makes us human. And, I'm ready for that to be celebrate. So, here we f-cking are.”

That Time She Made It Clear How Hard It Is to Get the ‘Perfect’ Selfie

“I love a good selfie, or holiday pic, or workout photo. It's all amazing,” she wrote. “That being said, how many times have you beat yourself up while scrolling through social media? How many times have you felt boring or not enough?”

Sophie says she’ll go days without posting because she fees like she doesn’t have anything exciting to post about. “Yesterday I drank a smoothie, journaled, worked and visited with my parents. I also cried during Trolls because I thought it had such a beautiful message. Today, I ate breakfast, replied to some emails and kissed my puppies obsessively. I also couldn't get a selfie I actually liked,” she wrote. “Can you relate?”

Sophie says she doesn’t want fans to feel bad when they look at her pictures. “Sure, I travel, and share professionally taken photos but I also clean my dishes, pick up my dog's sh-t and take forever to get the ‘right’ selfie,” she said. “Remember that we all go through those less than ‘exciting’ moments—and that's totally just as cool.”

That Time She Showed Her Awesome Definition of ‘Self Care’

“This is what self care can look like,” she wrote. “Self care isn't only reserved for those who have the privilege of attending a yoga retreat in the jungle. It's not only for those who regularly go for massages. You don't need to lock yourself away in a day spa. Self care isn't one single activity. It's simply making time for you.” So, Sophie said, she took a long shower, ate a dairy-free ice cream and watched Fifty Shades.

“This photo clearly isn't Instagram Fabulous—but it is real,” she continued. “I want to remind you that you can make time for yourself on the regular—and you are deserving of it.”

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